Chapter 59: Spring Flower Banquet
After leaving Shou An Courtyard, Tianshu went to Li Xiang Courtyard to see Ming Ge’er.
Tianshu brought Yuheng today, also wanting to hear her opinion on the poison Ming Ge’er was afflicted with.
Yuheng was the most skilled in “poison control” among the thirteen disciples of the Corpse Guarding Three Elders from Old Mausoleum Swamp.
It is said that medicine and poison originate from the same source, but when broken down, they are vastly different.
The thirteen disciples all studied ten arts, yet each had their own specialty.
As for Xue Sui herself, compared to her twelve senior brothers and sisters who specialized in their respective fields, she was actually the most mediocre—knowing a little of everything, but not excelling at anything.
Yuheng was five years older than Yaoguang, acted with composure, and had a meticulous mind. She usually appeared like a mature senior sister, but anyone would automatically become obedient in front of Tianshu, showing a touch of girlishness.
She asked Ming Ge’er to stick out his tongue.
After several attempts, Ming Ge’er managed to perform the action with Xue Sui’s help.
Yuheng inserted a silver needle into the acupoint beneath his tongue.
Xue Sui asked, “Is it serious?”
Yuheng withdrew the silver needle and placed it in a porcelain bowl mixed with medicine water.
After a long while, a wispy black gas appeared on the silver needle in the bowl.
Yuheng said, “It has been a long time; I fear it will be difficult to cure completely.”
Her opinion was the same as Tianshu’s: they needed to slowly improve the child’s bodily functions through medicinal soup and acupuncture, and then see if there was a chance to restore some of the child’s clarity…
The three sat down to discuss for a while, drafted a prescription, and Tianshu administered acupuncture to Ming Ge’er once more. After the wet nurse took the child away to rest, she then inquired of Xue Sui.
“If the Crown Prince truly harbors murderous intent, what will you do?”
Xue Sui pursed her lips and smiled at Yuheng beside her.
“In this matter, I will have to rely on Fifth Senior Sister.”
“Me?” Yuheng was slightly taken aback, then smiled, “You and I are sisters; if you command it, I will go through fire and water.”
Xue Sui chuckled softly.
“Fire and water are not necessary, I just want to borrow something from Fifth Senior Sister.”
–
The second day of the third lunar month, with a gentle breeze and auspicious clouds, was a good day for an outing.
The custom of enjoying spring outings was very popular in the current dynasty, and there was a traditional flower competition during the spring scenery. Women liked to adorn themselves with flowers, or tuck them into their hair, and whoever’s flowers were unique and beautiful would draw admiration.
From high-ranking officials and nobles to common folk, everyone was enthusiastic about venturing out in spring.
For this reason, many wealthy families would even spend a fortune to purchase rare flowers in order to win the flower competition.
Today, Empress Xie was hosting a Spring Flower Banquet in the Imperial Garden, which was an even grander occasion.
As dawn broke, the invited noble ladies in the city had already meticulously dressed themselves, bringing their daughters and exotic flowers, and were heading in a grand procession towards the Imperial Garden.
Along the way, the entire city was filled with people adorned with flowers.
Xiao Zhao, having come from Old Mausoleum Swamp, rarely saw such a grand spectacle. Her eyes were filled with amazement, and she pointed and exclaimed from time to time.
Xue Sui watched with a smile until their carriage stopped outside the Imperial Garden gate.
They did not travel with Fu Shi, but had rented a donkey cart from a carriage service themselves.
The donkey cart was somewhat shabby, and when squeezed among the magnificent carriages and sedan chairs of various families outside the Imperial Garden, it looked rather comical.
“Madam, Mistress, Young Ladies, please alight here…”
As Fu Shi, supported by Nanny Liu, alighted from the carriage, she turned her head and saw Xue Sui, immediately frowning.
Xue Yue Man alighted behind her and muttered softly, “Such a stingy demeanor. What is she doing here?”
Xue Yue E also asked, “Why is Xue Liu here as well?”
The Minister’s Mansion had received an invitation from Empress Xie, which forced Fu Shi to bring Eighth Miss and Ninth Miss along.
The Xue family did not wish to form a marital alliance with the Eastern Palace, and Empress Xie naturally would not seek a daughter-in-law from the Minister’s Mansion. However, all noble ladies of rank five or above had received the Empress’s invitation, and not inviting them, or them not attending, would invite gossip.
It was merely a matter of giving face to each other.
Of course, both Eighth and Ninth Miss were concubine’s daughters, and the Crown Princess was absolutely out of the question. Fu Shi was not worried at all. She glanced at Xue Sui and instructed her,
“You haven’t forgotten the rules, have you? Be sharp when you meet people later.”
Xue Yue E and Xue Yue Man often went out to socialize with young ladies in the mansion, and they both responded in unison, not appearing particularly nervous.
The group walked inside, ignoring Xue Sui, as if not seeing her.
Two madams were talking ahead.
One said, “They seem respectable, but aren’t they still marrying their concubine’s daughters into prince’s mansions?”
One said, “If they can’t give birth to a legitimate son, what else can they do but marry them into prince’s mansions?”
One said, “The Xue family doesn’t have many male heirs, but quite a few daughters. By having them on both sides, they can always eat well…”
Fu Shi, already annoyed, walked past them with a stern face, her gaze unwavering, and let out a heavy snort.
The two madams exchanged knowing glances, then put on smiles and greeted her.
“Sister Xue Hong…”
Fu Shi deliberately paused, then turned back with an impeccable smile.
“Xiu Wan, Duan Yi. You’ve arrived too.”
Fu Shi, Su Xiu Wan, and Zhao Duan Yi were originally handkerchief friends, and in their youth, they could confide in each other. Later, as the three married and had children, their statuses and positions changed, and they gradually grew distant.
Fu Shi’s family background was prominent, and she married well. She looked down on them, and Su Xiu Wan and Zhao Duan Yi often gossiped about her behind her back, especially recently with the constant troubles in the Xue Mansion, which they treated as a joke.
However, once they met, they were still amiable and chatted and laughed.
It was at this moment that Xue Sui spoke—
“Excuse me, the carriage ahead, please move aside.”
A carriage from an unknown family was blocking half the road at the Imperial Garden entrance. The donkey cart driver, unaccustomed to such a grand scene, panicked. He repeatedly urged the donkey, but couldn’t get the cart to move out…
The situation was clearly awkward, but Xue Sui remained expressionless and helped the driver maneuver the cart.
Fu Shi watched with a frown, her handkerchief clenched tightly in her hand.
Xue Yue E snorted with displeasure, “Sixth Sister is truly embarrassing. Mother didn’t ask her to come, yet she invited herself. Why would an already betrothed woman come to the Spring Flower Banquet? Could she possibly still be dreaming of becoming the Crown Princess?”
Xue Yue Man also said, “We came with Mother, why did she come? And, she even hired a donkey cart, I’m so embarrassed…”
Both felt that Sixth Sister had disgraced the Xue family, but Fu Shi sternly reprimanded them.
“Don’t talk nonsense!”
The news of the Crown Prince selecting a consort was only rumored privately; officially, this was just a Spring Flower Banquet.
Flower competitions, archery, chess, riddles, playing music—these were held every year. Everyone gathered to have fun; it was not a special occasion, and speaking of it would only invite ridicule.
Seeing Fu Shi’s displeasure, Madam Su and Madam Zhao were in high spirits.
“Sister Xue Hong, is this the Sixth Miss your family recently found?”
“She’s so lovely!”
“If I had such a daughter, I’d probably laugh in my dreams, how could I bear to lose her…”
Why else would they be called handkerchief friends? They understood each other.
Whatever Fu Shi least wanted to hear, Su Xiu Wan and Zhao Duan Yi would say.
The veiled mockery and sarcasm made Fu Shi’s anger surge.
“Xue Liu,” she called out softly.
Xue Sui turned back and offered a smile, as if she had only just noticed her, and gracefully approached.
She hadn’t dressed up deliberately today, but it was inappropriate to be too disrespectful at the Empress’s flower banquet. She wore a lotus-root-colored silk gown made this spring, a light cape over it, a silk sash of the same color at her waist, a jade hairpin in her hair, and a blooming iris flower tucked behind her ear. Her appearance was more fresh and vibrant than usual.
“Greetings, First Madam.”
Fu Shi’s throat tightened, and she was filled with indignation: “Who told you to come to the Imperial Garden? What kind of occasion is this, that you can enter so freely? It’s embarrassing enough in the mansion, don’t disgrace yourself outside.”
She lowered her voice, with a warning: “Hurry back!”
Xue Sui smiled upon hearing this, gently covering her face with a fan.
“The First Madam has no say in this.”
“You…”
Before Fu Shi could finish speaking, she heard a familiar and clear voice.
“Mother, it was I who asked Sixth Sister to accompany me. She hasn’t seen such excitement in ten years away from the capital.”
It was no secret that Sixth Miss was about to marry into Prince Duan’s Mansion. The title of “Ru Ren” had already secured Xue Liu’s future, so her presence at the flower banquet was different from that of other eligible young ladies. Xue Yue Chen did not mind this.
Fu Shi, however, darkened her expression and pulled her aside, reprimanding her in a low voice:
“Have you been so blinded by the incense oil at Pu Ji Temple that you’ve lost your senses? Does she deserve to be at Empress Xie’s Spring Banquet? Must you give her face and embarrass your parents?”
“Mother,” Xue Yue Chen shook her head in disagreement.
“So many people are watching.”
She gestured for Fu Shi to calm down and winked.
What she didn’t say was that without Xue Liu by her side, she felt uneasy, fearing further misfortune.
Especially at an important event like the Spring Banquet, where no mistakes could be made, she particularly needed Xue Liu as a “talisman.”
Fu Shi was so angry her chest ached. “You’ll regret this sooner or later.”
Xue Yue Chen acted as if she didn’t see Fu Shi’s expression and turned to smile at Xue Sui.
“Let’s go, Sixth Sister, we’ll go in first.”
Xue Sui responded, bowed to Madam Su and Madam Zhao, then linked arms with Xue Yue Chen and walked inside. She deliberately glanced back at Fu Shi with a playful look, her smile clear.
Perhaps her gaze was too intense, causing Fu Shi’s heart to feel a chill.
“You little wretch!”
The farce ended, with only Fu Shi fuming with anger.
No one noticed that a carriage outside the Imperial Garden quietly approached, and a corner of its curtain was lifted.
It was the Eastern Palace’s carriage.
Li Zhao sat inside the carriage, the silver dragon pattern subtly embroidered on his sleeve cuff peeking out. His cold eyes were like frost and snow, complementing the chill emanating from him. At a glance, he seemed sharp enough to pierce through Xue Sui’s back…
Xue Sui: I told you, the Crown Prince wants to kill me!
Li Zhao: Well said, don’t say it next time! Just act!
Xiao Zhao: Alright!
